Dear Outbounds,

Over the past months I would write down advice that I wanted to tell future outbounds (those who are about to begin their exchange) If you are an outbound going to Taiwan read this. If you’re an outbound who is not going to Taiwan, there’s some good info in here for you too. I’m giving you the advice, but of course you decide to take it.

1. Don’t drink the tap water. Even if they have the special little faucet that you might have at home, don’t drink from that with out asking. In Taiwan all water must be boiled unless it comes from a water machine. You’ll know what that is when you see it.

2. Taiwan uses the same outlets and same voltage as the US. Find out what kind of outlets the country you’re going to uses BEFORE you leave. There is no point in bringing adapters that you can’t use.

3. Taipei is COLD in the winter. If you look up the weather of Taiwan you’re going to see that it doesn’t get below 45F in Taipei. That may be true but because of the humidity, the winter is bone-chilling. Southern Taiwan is warmer but you are still going to want to bring some warm clothes.

4. When you are sick or hurt don’t put off going to the doctor. In the US, because it’s so expensive, we don’t go to the doctor unless it’s BAD. Don’t worry about it here. Tell your host family right away. The doctors here are good and care is cheap. You will get sick. If you are coming from the US to Taiwan you will most likely be sick a lot. You don’t have the immunities yet to fight off Taiwanese illnesses. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger;)

5. Find out if you’re phone is locked BEFORE you leave. That’s a lot of trouble you don’t want to deal with in your host country.

6. Get Line and WhatsApp now. Other exchange, your host family, and your classmates will have a much easier time contacting you.

7. In Taiwan, if problems occur, you must actively contact your counselor. Get their Line and email. There are no monthly meetings like in other countries.

8. Stop freaking out about the language. Yes Chinese is hard and it will take you longer to speak in full  sentences than your friends who are in countries that have, for instance, an alphabet. Get HelloChinese, set it to Traditional, and start now. Do it every day you can. If you’re going to a different country get Duolingo.

9. Don’t press the red button in the bathroom. That is the emergency button and it will cause you a lot of embarrassment if you press it. Squat toilets usually have the flush beside the toilet but sometimes it’s a string above your head that you pull to flush.

10. Try all the food. If you’re picky, tell yourself that you aren’t. If the food is actually bad it will make a good story later:)

11. Buckle your seatbelt when you are in the passenger seat or on the highway. Even on the bus.

12. Bring bracelets to trade. You don’t really need to bring business cards. Use that money for pins. Big, fun pins.

13. Don’t feel guilty about hanging out with other exchangers. In your home country you will be told over and over to hang out with locals. In Taiwan that is often not possible. Your friends will have cram school until 9pm. Your curfew is 10pm usually. Even after a test if they don’t do well, their parents might punish them by not allowing them go out. You can hangout with other exchangers, I’m telling you it’s okay. Just be sure to be friendly with your classmates in school.

14. What makes or breaks your exchange is your mentality. If you think “why is all this bad shit happening to ME? What did I do?” It’ll make you lose control. If instead you think, “look at all this shit I’m overcoming! Nothing’s going to spoil my mood.” That is how you will feel.  Find something to do with the first two months. It’ll be hard but you are MUCH stronger than you think.

15. Go on all the trips. They will probably be the highlight of your exchange.

16. Unless it’s a cautionary tale, tune out stories from other countries. The cultures, language, trips, and Rotary are too different. Comparing your exchange with other's is never a good thing.

17. Figure out what you want and do that. You can.

18, To bring:
          • the flag of home and host country
          • Sponsor club banner
          • More than enough eye contacts and solution
          • gifts for four families

They are going to be much more appreciative of something that they can display rather than something that they can eat or wear. I really wish that I would have just went to a truck stop, bought some "Honest to Goodness Indiana" plates and given those as gifts. I am sure that they would have loved them.  

          • Different pin designs